New Orleans in 1 Day: all you need to know

Are you going to spend a day walking around New Orleans and don't know what to see or how to organize yourself? Although you will have an endless number of activities to do and see in New Orleans, you can optimize your time and make the most of it to tour it in just one day. Of course, you should start as early as possible so you don't miss anything.

You can visit some of the city's emblematic neighborhoods, learn a bit of history at the National World War II Museum, absorb local culture, have fun at Mardi Gras World and end the day with a cruise on the Mississippi River. These are the best tours to live a unique experience and get the best of the city in 1 day.

This is one of the most famous and beautiful neighborhoods of New Orleans, it is residential and its majestic mansions make it worth touring. I recommend you to take a tour of the Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery to know it without missing anything and listen to its interesting history dating back centuries.

Over the course of two hours you will enjoy learning about the events that took place in these old mansions such as the Buckner Mansion that you will surely recognize from American Horror Story and those that are currently the homes of various celebrities in the area.

You will be able to appreciate the American architectural styles and enjoy the scenery of the neighborhood. In addition, the tour also includes the Lafayette Cemetery and will allow you to learn a little about its history, traditional tombs and funeral processes.

This neighborhood is located between St. Charles, Jackson, Magazine and Louisiana Streets.

Information of Interest:

• Starting point: 1400 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA.
• What's included: walking tour of approximately 2 hours.
• Price: 29€ approximately

Visit the facilities of this center where most of the floats that travel the streets of New Orleans during the carnival season are designed and built.

This center offers unique and fun experiences to its visitors, I recommend you to try on the authentic costumes of the Mardi Gras celebration and meet the most beautiful and exuberant floats. The tour will be led by a guide who will tell you a bit of history. It lasts approximately one hour and you can take it between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

You can't leave New Orleans without visiting the National WWII Museum. It is a place full of history and is one of the main attractions of the city. Here you will find thousands of objects and memorabilia that will give you a close look at the Second World War. In addition, in its exhibitions you will learn all the events that happened during the war.

To enter the museum you must pre-purchase your ticket which has a price of about 28 €. Therefore, to avoid queues at the site and not waste time, I recommend that you buy it in advance. This way you will be able to visit it at your own pace and without setbacks.

The French Quarter is located in the heart of New Orleans and there you will find a harmonious blend of history and tradition with novelty and modernity. It's a charming area, with a timeless appearance, as if it were frozen in time.

The neighborhood is full of interesting sites and attractions, but on top of all that, it has a very high gastronomic reputation. Some would say that it is home to the best restaurants in the city, so a good plan is to take a gastronomic tour of the area, but in addition, I recommend a few so you can eat something and recharge your batteries for the rest of the day:

• Antoine's: this is the oldest restaurant in New Orleans and has an extensive menu. I recommend you try some of the most popular dishes of the place: Oysters Rockefeller, Eggs Sardou, which are eggs on a base of artichokes with anchovies, covered with hollandaise sauce, or Pommes de Terre Souffles, classic puffed potatoes.
• Galatoire's: is a real gem that you will find in the French Quarter. This restaurant was recognized as one of the best restaurants in New Orleans and in the world!
• Brennan's: is considered one of the top 100 brunch restaurants in the United States and offers a diversity of dishes with a mix of Creole traditions and contemporary New Orleans influences.

The French Quarter of New Orleans is amazing and not only because it has the tastiest culinary delights you will ever try, but also because of its history and tradition that you should know. This neighborhood was founded by the Spanish, but then the French left their mark there in the eighteenth century and precisely from that date are its beautiful colonial style buildings.

So you can optimize your day to the fullest, I recommend you take a historical tour of the French Quarter. This way you will be able to get to know the neighborhood in the best way: making a deep journey through its history and in a short time.

For an hour and a half you will walk through the French Quarter with the advice of a guide who will tell you all about this amazing neighborhood. You will be able to walk through its narrow streets, learn about its French and Spanish architecture, the St. Louis Cathedral and some of the oldest buildings in America.

Jackson Square is a National Historic Landmark located in the heart of the French Quarter. This park began as a place for military parades called Arms Square. In the 19th century, it was transformed into a garden and the square was renamed in honor of Andrew Jackson, an American president who defended the people of New Orleans from the British.

On several occasions it was the scene of several films and events and you are likely to find artists exhibiting their work outdoors, as they often use the place as a studio.

I recommend that if you are walking through Jackson Square, stop for a coffee accompanied by the best beignets in New Orleans at Café du Monde, while enjoying the view of the square.

Just a few meters from Jackson Square, you will find the traditional St. Louis Church. It is the oldest church in New Orleans and the second oldest in the United States. It is one of the few American Catholic churches that continues the Spanish tradition of being located in a public square with other major buildings, as it is adjacent to Jackson Square and between the historic buildings of the Cabildo and the Curial House.

Visiting it won't take you long and I recommend you do so to take away the memory of another important part of the city's history.

The Cabildo was the former seat of colonial power in Louisiana and serves as the gateway to walk through the history of this state and New Orleans. You'll experience its huge, spacious halls, exquisite Spanish Colonial design and impressive ceilings in sophisticated French style. Even from the second floor windows you will find an exclusive view of Jackon Square.

One of its main attractions is the magnificent Chapter House, which used to be a courthouse and a center for meetings and all kinds of events. Here you will find an exhibition of all kinds of objects such as tools from Native American cultures and period advertisements with notices of escaped slaves.

It won't take you long and is well worth the walk so you can take a little more of the city's history with you.

French Market is a historic site of the city that represents pride and progress for the inhabitants of New Orleans and also one of the most recognized places you should visit during your visit to the city.

It is over 200 years old and has been built and rebuilt many times over the years, but there is one thing that remains intact from day one: its spirit of commerce, community and culture. Here you will find literally everything! From decorative ceramics by artisans, clothing and sculptures of various materials, crafts, food...

The market is located at 1008 N Peters St. and has its own parking lot, in case you want to go by car. It is also easily accessible by public transportation by taking the Riverfront Streetcar, the #5 Marigny-Bywater bus or the #55 Elysian Fields bus.

Marigny and the French Quarter are separated by the beautiful Esplande Ave, a tree-lined avenue, very picturesque, quiet and full of history. You will walk a few streets along it, enjoying the scenery until you reach Marigny, where you will find the best music in New Orleans.

You can't pass through New Orleans without visiting this neighborhood. This is where the music that makes this city unique is housed. The most recognized jazz clubs in the world are located on the famous Frenchmen Street, I recommend you to walk along it to find the largest variety of musical offerings in NOLA and even the world.

In Marigny you will also find restaurants that are all the rage in the city, offering all kinds of classic dishes and reinventions of typical New Orleans food. There are also galleries and thrift stores with a variety of art to suit all budgets.

To end the day with a unique experience and take the best memories of New Orleans you can take a cruise on the Mississippi River to enjoy a beautiful evening on the river, to the rhythm of jazz and watching the sunset.

So you can say goodbye to this magical city, appreciating it from a different place, enjoying the good jazz and knowing another way to feel the culture and beauty of New Orleans. The tour will last about two hours with dinner and jazz show.

Interesting facts:

• Departure point: Gray Line New Orleans, 400 Toulouse St. and the time is at 6 p.m.
• What's included: a 2-hour cruise with dinner.
• Price: 157€ approximately.

Almost all the activities I mentioned are close by and you can do them on foot or by public transportation. But since you only have one day to explore the city, I tell you that you can save time by taking the tourist bus known as Hop On Hop Off to travel longer distances and see the city at your own pace.

It is an excellent option to optimize time, to know different places of the city with an expert guide and to be able to make the stops you want in those places you want to explore in depth. This bus perfectly connects the best neighborhoods of New Orleans so you won't miss anything.